Vintage Soul

Ballarat Specialist School-Op Shop

Ballarat Specialist School’s first ever ‘Op-Shop’ is open at the Gillies St Campus for students, parents and families, and members of the community. The Op-Shop is located off the main carpark - on the Aquatic Centre side, on the left. All visitors are welcome to park in the undercover parking directly out the front of the store, during opening hours- 9:30am- 2pm Monday to Friday.

 

“Vintage Soul” managed by staff member Tara Cameron, launched on March 1, 2021. Members of the public are invited into our school to experience the newly established op-shop. The theme ‘Vintage Soul’, is centred on a 70s retro aesthetic style. The variety of clothes, household items, books and toys that have been donated largely by our school community thus far has ensured the Op-Shop is set up in a fantastic way. 

 

An additional element to Vintage Soul is a connection to possible employment opportunities for the students of Ballarat Specialist School. Tara is qualified to not only run and manage Vintage Soul but to also train students in retail and deliver a Vocational Education & Training (VET) Certificate II qualification.  

 

Our secondary campus known as the FARM (located on Norman Street) is a part of the supply chain in ensuring pre-owned goods are donated to Vintage Soul regularly. As part of the school’s VET program, other learning areas such as our Warehousing and Cleaning Operation programs are involved in the cleaning, sorting, and packing of goods donated to the school before the items make their way to Vintage Soul and are ready for sale. The VET program incorporated within Vintage Soul currently targets approximately eight Year 9 students aged 14-15 who will spend a portion of each week working in the shop whilst also learning the skills required to work in the retail profession. This supports students to aspire to attaining their Certificate II in Retail whilst working at Vintage Soul and experiencing all that it has to offer. 

 

We would like to thank the wider school community in assisting us to launch this exciting new venture.  We warmly welcome all members of the community to come on in and check out the new retail Vintage Soul space, make yourself a purchase and you might also like to pick up a coffee at the Special Treats Café whilst you’re here! 

 

Thank you for all of your support of our students.

 

Tara and the Ballarat Specialist School Staff